The Sterling Cos. of McKinney, TX, is spearheading thedevelopments of the combined 826 units under a fee developmentagreement with ARL, a regional REIT, James Clifton, Sterling'spresident told GlobeSt.com. The general contractor for all of theprojects is Global Contractors LLC in Houston, continuing a 24-yearrelationship between the developer and builder. The three projectswill deliver in 2002.

The 250-unit Ft. Worth project, encompassing at least 250,000sf, will be situated in Marine Creek Lake while 288-unitdevelopments are ticketed for Houston's Mason Park and land at theintersection of W. Little York and 6th St. All of the projects willbe similar in design, but the higher-end luxury units have beenearmarked for Ft. Worth. That project carries a $27 million pricetag, says Clifton. The Houston projects will cost about $19 millioneach and entail more than 288,000 sf each. Terry Molik Architectsof Houston is designing the complexes, which feature units withstate-of-the-art luxury interiors, including high-speed Internethookups, and property amenities such as an executive high-techconference room and virtual office. The developments are part of agrowing portfolio of luxury complexes in prime markets thatSterling has initiated in the past decade. The developer also islaunching high-end complexes in Albuquerque and Ft. Myers, Fla.

Clifton acts as developer while relying upon decades-oldrelationships with his builder and architect to bring the projectsto fruition. "I really couldn't do what I do without them," hesays, citing on-time delivery as critical factors for being able toinitiate four to eight such developments per year.